Virgin Atlantic has recruited two Hollywood stars, Steve Buscemi
(Reservoir Dogs) and Steven Berkoff (Beverly Hills Cop), for its new
Upper Class television campaign through Rainey Kelly Campbell
Roalfe/Y&R.
The two actors play Mr B and Mr A, a pair of incompetent detectives who
are working for a rival airline investigating the ’dirty tricks’ that
Virgin is employing to lure passengers on to its service.
In the first spot of four, the two meet in a deserted restaurant, where
Mr A (Buscemi), shows Mr B pictures of Virgin Atlantic’s new Upper Class
bar area. Mr A says: ’It’s quite impressive I’m afraid. You can sit
there and get a drink and chill out.’
Mr B observes: ’Obviously they’re nuts,’ to which Mr A responds:
’Cashew, pistachio, bar snacks, olives - green and black.’
Next we see the pair spying on Virgin’s upgraded chauffeur service. Mr A
asks Mr B: ’Would you like me to wipe out the chauffeur?’ Mr B tells him
bitterly: ’I think you’ll find there’s more than one.’
The two next meet in a secret location, where Mr A shows Mr B a scale
model of Virgin Atlantic’s new massage area, which he describes as
’totally unique’ before asking: ’Relaxing, isn’t it?’ ’Not for us,’ Mr B
tells Mr A.
In the final commercial, Mr A has finally got the lowdown on Virgin’s
new seat, which he describes to Mr B as ’a bed. It’s 72 inches wide. You
can lie flat out and sleep like a baby.’ Mr B asks: ’So that’s first
class, what’s happening in business?’. ’It is business,’ Mr A
replies.’
All four ads were written by Robert Campbell and art directed by Mark
Roalfe. They were directed by Paul Weiland through the Paul Weiland Film
Company. Media buying is through Manning Gottlieb Media.
